Welcome
to U.S. History 2 (HIST 1302)
Section/Synonym 61567-014
Course Syllabus - Fall 2018
All Course materials Copyright © T. Thomas, 2018
THIS
CLASS
Class
meets Mondays & Wednesdays, 12 – 1:20 pm at South Austin Campus (SAC) Room 1203. The first day of class is Monday, August
27th.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
In
order to ensure respect for the rights of everyone in class:
Ø You are expected to arrive
on time and to stay for the entire class.
Ø Students who chronically
disrupt the class by arriving late or leaving early will be withdrawn from the
course.
Ø Let me know in advance
if you have to arrive late or leave early.
Ø If you cannot make it to
class on time, you can sit in on my other class, which meets from 9 –
10:20 am in this same classroom.
Ø Recording lectures is
permitted.
Ø Use of cell phones,
tablets, text messaging, etc. is not permitted. All electronic devices must be
stowed away from your desktop.
Ø Use of computers is not
permitted. The existing research on whether digital
technologies enhance student learning is far from conclusive. Whereas these
technologies can without a doubt serve as useful “learning tools,” they tend at
the same time to function as forms of digital distraction that prevent students
from remaining fully “present” in the classroom. Therefore, use of computers is not
permitted.
Ø Taking notes is required.
Taking notes helps you to be present and engaged in the class, it enhances your
learning of the course material, and it is a useful and transferable skill.
Ø Use of food, tobacco,
smoke, &/or vapor products in class is prohibited. Covered drinks
are OK.
BLACKBOARD NOTE: I do not post grades or
course materials on Blackboard. Course materials are posted on my website.
YOUR PROFESSOR
|
Mailing
Address: Dr.
T. Thomas ACC
– History 1820
West Stassney Lane Austin,
TX 78745 Office
Hours: Mon
& Wed 10:30 - 11:30 am &
1:30 - 3 pm. Other
days/times by appointment My
office is at South Austin Campus (SAC) room 1321.2 (3rd fl) |
Email: (the fastest way to communicate with me) Phone
& voicemail: (512)
223-9255 Urgent
message: call History Dept at 223-3385. Website: |
A
NOTE ABOUT EMAIL
The fastest way to reach
me is by email (tmthomas@austincc.edu). I reply to ALL emails, usually within a few
hours.
Ø If you send me an email,
please type something in the "Subject" space, such as "History
course". If you leave the Subject blank, your email will automatically be
deleted as spam ("junk" email).
Ø I answer EVERY email. If
you do NOT get a reply, please assume I never got your email and - either email
me again - or CALL me.
Ø You can leave a voice
message at 512-223-9255. For URGENT
messages, call the History Department Office at 512-223-3385 - and ask them to
relay a message to me.
Ø If there are any important
class announcements, I’ll send them via email to you at your ACC email
address, so check your ACC email on a regular basis.
THIS
COURSE
COURSE
OBJECTIVES & RATIONALE: This course will acquaint you with the basic
processes of United States History from 1877 to the present, using a textbook,
classroom instruction, historical documents, and multimedia techniques.
By taking this course, you
can expect to improve or enhance your reading and writing competencies,
critical thinking skills, and research skills. These are skills that are
transferable to subsequent courses, to courses in other disciplines, and to
life outside of academia.
Ø This is primarily a
lecture course, but I encourage class participation.
Ø This course emphasizes
analytical reading and analytical thinking skills and historical research
methods.
Ø The Texas legislature
requires students to take 6 hours of American history to graduate from a public
institution of higher learning in Texas. A grade of C (some universities
require only a D) or better in this class partially fulfills that legislative
requirement.
Ø You are expected to read
the relevant textbook chapter before class (see the Course Schedule below)
Ø For common course
objectives, see the ACC History Dept website, http://www.austincc.edu/history/
PREREQUISITES: In order to achieve
success in this course, you must:
Ø
have
a desire to learn and a desire to achieve to the best of your ability
Ø
be
willing to accept personal responsibility for your success in this course
Ø
make
a commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the course
Ø
read
and understand English at the college-level
Ø
have a college-level reading comprehension and
vocabulary. If you cannot yet read at this level, it’s not likely that you’ll
pass this course; and so I recommend you first take developmental reading courses to improve your
reading skills, THEN come back and take this course
Ø
be able to write at the college level - using
correct grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, paragraphs, vocabulary, etc.
Ø
have
a basic knowledge of world geography and an understanding of basic geography
concepts (e.g., hemispheres, longitude, latitude, & difference between
continents, countries, & cities)
Ø
have a knowledge of basic political science concepts
(e.g., legislative, executive, judicial, monarchy, imperialism, impeachment,
nationalism, suffrage, veto).
COURSE
ORGANIZATION: This course is divided into four units, with each
unit covering 3-4 textbook chapters. For each unit, there are study questions. The study questions are
distributed by Dr. Thomas on the first day of class and are also available to
download from Dr. Thomas' website. At the end of each unit, an examination will
be administered in class. The exam questions will be taken from class lecture,
the study questions, and the textbook.
TEXTBOOK
REQUIRED: James Roark et al, The
American Promise, Volume 2, Seventh edition.
Ø You are expected to read
the relevant textbook chapter before class (see the Course Schedule below)
Ø It is your responsibility
to locate and acquire a copy of the textbook.
Some students purchase the textbook; some rent it. It’s your choice.
Ø I recommend you acquire
the textbook BEFORE the course begins so that you will have it on the first day of the semester.
Ø If you cannot afford to
acquire the textbook right away, there is an older version on reserve in the
SAC Library - for use in the Library.
Ø There are TWO VERSIONS of
the textbook. You may choose EITHER one.
Ø WHEN ORDERING ONLINE, USE
THE ISBN NUMBER (below) to make sure you have the right textbook.
|
TEXTBOOK |
WHERE TO PURCHASE |
|
“Value” Edition ISBN: 978-1-319-06200-2 |
Ø
Available
at
ACC bookstores and other booksellers. Ø
This version is usually the least expensive version. Ø
It contains the same text as the full-color paperback
(below), but is a black and white version, with fewer graphics, photos, maps,
etc.. |
|
Full color paperback ISBN: 978-1-319-06209-5 |
Ø
Available at ACC bookstores and other booksellers. Ø
This version is the more expensive version. It includes full color maps and pictures. |
ATTENDANCE
The
most successful students in this course are those who attend class.
Ø You are expected to attend
class and to arrive on time. If
you arrive late, you disrupt the class and infringe on the rights of others in
the classroom. You will be withdrawn from the class if you’re chronically late.
Ø If you miss class for any
reason, you’re encouraged to get class notes from a colleague in the class.
Ø If you know you’re going
to be late or if you have to leave early, please let me know ahead of time.
Ø If you have to be absent
from this class on any day, please feel free to attend my other HIST 1302
class, in this same classroom, from 9 – 10:20 am. No permission necessary.
Ø You are expected to
read the relevant chapter of the textbook BEFORE you come to class. See the semester schedule at the end of the
syllabus.
WITHDRAWING
FROM THIS COURSE - Deadline is Nov 26th
If
you find that you are unable to meet course requirements, you should consider
withdrawing from the course to avoid any possibility of being assigned a
failing grade.
Students
who disrupt the class will be withdrawn from the class. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not
limited to, chronic tardiness. Students who disrupt the class by interfering
with the free and respectful exchange of ideas will be withdrawn from the
class.
Ø BEFORE you consider
withdrawing, read the state law (“Six-withdrawal Limit”) on withdrawals from
Texas public colleges/universities, located in the ACC Student “Need to Know” section, online at:
http://www.austincc.edu/apply-and-register/registration-information/course-withdrawals
Ø Withdrawal is accomplished
by completing a withdrawal form online at the “Online Services” web page (http://www.austincc.edu/onlineservices/)
Ø It is your responsibility to complete the
withdrawal process.
Ø The deadline for
withdrawing is Nov 26th. You can withdraw ON Nov 26th.
STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES
For
students with disabilities, ACC is committed to providing an equal opportunity
to access benefits, rights, and privileges of college services, programs, and
activities in compliance with state and federal law.
Ø Students with disabilities
who need accommodations must request reasonable accommodations through ACC's Student
Accessibility Services (SAS) offices are located on each of the ACC campuses.
Ø Students are encouraged to
do this at least 2 weeks before the semester begins.
Ø Please let me know as soon
as possible how I can accommodate your special needs in this class.
Ø If you are requesting
accommodations, you must submit your Accommodations Form to me as soon as
possible.
Ø At South Austin Campus, the
SAS office is located in room 1112.
Link
to other Student Services at ACC:
http://www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/services-for-students
CAMPUS
CARRY OF CONCEALED HANDGUNS
The Austin Community College District concealed
handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government
Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law),
while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students,
faculty, staff, and visitors. Individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may
do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by
state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. It is the
responsibility of license holders to comply with the College’s policy and to
conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are
asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone
or 512-223-7999.
Ø Full ACC Policy: http://www.austincc.edu/campus-carry/policy
Ø Campus Carry Webpage: http://www.austincc.edu/campus-carry
YOUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY
In
compliance with the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, I will not give
information concerning your grades, academic progress, attendance, address,
phone, or email address to anyone (including your parents) unless you give your
written permission. In addition, I will not give grade information over the
phone. For details, see: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION
“Academic
Freedom” - the free exchange of ideas - is vital to learning. Your comments and
ideas, if expressed respectfully, will be met with respect from your
colleagues and your professor. You are
encouraged to ask questions and to contribute to class discussions. There are no “stupid” questions and you will
not be ridiculed for asking questions. Students who disrupt the class by
interfering with the free and respectful exchange of ideas will be withdrawn.
HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING THIS COURSE
This
is a college course and all students enrolled in this course are considered
college students.
Ø Unless there is an
emergency, I will not speak to, nor will I correspond with, your parents or
guardians.
Ø If there are any absences,
problems or issues, you need to speak
with me or correspond with me yourself.
Ø All sections of this
syllabus and orientation pertain equally to all students in this course,
regardless of age or educational status.
Ø Regardless of their age,
high school students who are enrolled in a college course are protected by Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, In compliance with this
Act, I will not discuss your grades or your academic progress with your parents
or guardians.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY
Acts
of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a
disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic
mission of the institution. Acquiring
fraudulent credentials through cheating raises additional concerns for
employers and institutions beyond ACC, who rely on ACC to certify a student’s
academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and
skills of the graduate.
For
these, and other moral and ethical reasons, academic or scholastic dishonesty
will not be tolerated.
WARNING: Any act of plagiarism
and/or other type of academic or scholastic dishonesty will result in you
receiving the grade of "F" for the course. Violation of Testing Center policies while
using the testing center will also result in a failing grade for this course. For more information on policies concerning
student rights and responsibilities, see the ACC Catalog & Student
Handbook, http://www.austincc.edu/catalog
Academic
dishonesty – cheating - is defined as fraud, deceit, or
dishonesty in an academic assignment. It includes:
v
Copying or attempting to copy from others during an
examination;
v
Copying or attempting to copy from others an
assignment;
v
Communicating examination information to, or
receiving such information from, another person;
v
Violating
v
Using, attempting to use, or assisting others in
using materials that are prohibited during examination in question, such as:
books, Web sites, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information;
v
Allowing others to do one's assignment or a portion
of one's assignment;
v
Using a commercial term paper service or otherwise
acquiring a term paper and submitting it as your own;
v
Purchasing or otherwise acquiring written work that
is not your own
Plagiarism
is defined as using another's work (whether printed, electronic, or spoken)
without crediting him or her. All of the following are considered plagiarism:
v turning in someone else's work as your own;
v copying words or ideas from someone else without
giving credit;
v failing to put a quotation in quotation marks;
v changing words but copying the sentence structure
of a source without giving credit;
v copying so many words or ideas from a source that
it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not;
v copying from a website without giving credit
“Giving credit” means citing the source of your information. This is usually done using a footnote. If you use material from a website, book or
other source, you must give credit to that author by citing the source in a
footnote. See Dr. Thomas for assistance
with footnotes.
EXAMS
There
are five exams, each consisting of 30 multiple choice questions (no essay
questions). You must take all five exams in order to receive credit for this
course.
Ø The first exam is a Map
Test that evaluates your knowledge of U.S. geography. You will be given a map
of North America and you should be able to locate the places listed on page 2
of your Study Guide. The Map Test is not difficult - spend a couple of hours
studying for it.
Ø The remaining four exams
include test questions that are derived from class lecture, the textbook and
the Study Guide. Questions on these four
exams are much more challenging than the Map Test - and so require much
more time and effort.
Ø Exams are graded on a
numbered scale with 100% being the highest grade, and anything below 60%
considered a failing grade. Each question on an exam is worth 3.33 points.
Ø Failure to take an exam on
the scheduled exam date results in a zero for that exam – unless the absence is
due to a serious, documented, medical issue (see “Make-up Exam” below).
MAKE-UP EXAM:
Ø Make-up exams are given
ONLY for DOCUMENTED serious medical issues or problems.
Ø You MUST notify Dr. Thomas
as soon as you know you will miss an
exam. Do not wait.
Ø It is your responsibility
to arrange a make-up exam with Dr. Thomas.
Ø It is your responsibility
to provide medical documentation from a physician.
Ø Make-up exams may be
essay, multiple-choice, short-answer, or combination of these.
Ø Make-up exams, like
original exams, are graded on a numbered scale from 0 to 100%.
RE-TEST: If you score below 70% on an exam the first time
it is given (in class), you may take a Re-test.
Ø You may retest ONLY on
Exams 1 through 4.
Ø Retests are taken in the
SAC Testing Center (SAC 1135), on your own time.
Ø Review the Testing
Center’s policies at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/
Ø The
highest grade possible on the retest is a 70%.
Ø If you score lower on a
retest than you did on the original test, you’ll receive credit for the higher
of the two grades.
Ø You can retest on exams 1
through 4 on or before Dec 7th. No
re-testing after Dec 7th.
Ø There IS NO retest for the
last exam, which is the Unit 5 exam.
EXAM
SCHEDULE:
Ø Exam 1 Map Test Sept 5
Ø Exam 2 Chapters 17 - 20 Oct 1
Ø Exam 3 Chapters 21 - 24 Oct 24
Ø Exam 4 Chapters 25 - 27 Nov 19
Ø Exam 5 Chapters 28 - 31 Dec 12
YOUR
GRADE & HOW YOU EARN IT
The quality and quantity
of the work YOU do determines YOUR final grade.
There are no “extra credit” opportunities in this course.
Criteria for Assigning the
Final Course Grade
Ø For the grade of
"A", there are TWO requirements:
1. you must have an overall
exam average of 90% or above AND
2. you must submit an
acceptable Book Analysis by the submission deadline.
The Book Analysis is
addressed in a separate handout and also available on my website,
www.austincc.edu/tmthomas.
Ø For the grade of
"B" you must have an overall exam average of 80% or above.
Ø For the grade of
"C" you will have an overall exam average of 70% - 79%.
Ø For the grade of
"D" you will have an overall exam average of 60% - 69%.
Ø For the grade of
"F" you will have an overall exam average below 60%.
Ø For the grade of
"I" (Incomplete), you must have a medical excuse certified by a
physician, sent to Dr. Thomas no later than Dec 10th, AND you must have
completed and passed at least 3 exams.
·
IMPORTANT:
If your "Incomplete" is not completed by April 1, 2019, your "I”
grade will automatically become an "F" on your transcript. It is your
responsibility to complete the course in time to avoid the "F".
Calculating your Overall
Exam Average
Your final grade is
calculated as follows:
Exam 1 (Map
Test) grade
+ Exam 2 grade
+ Exam 3 grade
+ Exam 4 grade
+ Exam 5 grade
TOTAL is then divided by 5.
This is your Overall Exam Average.
HINTS, TIPS & ADVICE
Ø PREPARE FOR CLASS: Read the relevant textbook chapter BEFORE
class (see the schedule below) so that you are ready to learn and prepared to
contribute to class discussion.
Ø
Ø TEST-TAKING: Read each question very carefully and
completely; know what the question is asking. Read each response.
Eliminate responses that you know are wrong. When you have completed the
exam, go over it again and verify your answers. Answer the questions you know
first, then go back and answer the rest. Answer every question, even if you
have to guess.
Ø WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: ALWAYS
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Proofread
all your typed assignments for typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar, etc.
These types of errors seriously detract from the quality of your writing
assignment and will result in a lower grade. Read and follow the assignment
instructions. Get help from the Learning
Lab (SAC Room 1138)
if you need help with your general writing skills or your English
language writing skills.
Ø STUDY GROUPS: When possible, get
together with a few other students and form a study group. Work together to
complete the Study Questions, compare answers, quiz each other. Study
groups are a proven, effective means of attaining success in a course.
Ø POWERPOINT SLIDES: These
are posted to my website after class. I
encourage you to review them and to review your class notes at least once a
week. Highlight key words and phrases in
your notes.
Ø SPECIAL NEEDS: Please inform Dr. Thomas
in advance if you require a special testing or other in-class accommodation.
Request these accommodations during the first week of the semester.
Ø YOUR PROFESSOR: Do not hesitate to
consult with Dr. Thomas if you have any questions, doubts or uncertainties.
Call or stop by during office hours, make an appointment, or email at any time.
Seek help early in the semester; don’t wait until the end of the
semester to ask for help.
SEMESTER SCHEDULE - FALL
2018
Subject
to change at Dr. Thomas’ discretion – changes will be announced in class.
NOTE: There is a Chapter 16 in your textbook, but
Chapter 16 is covered in History 1 - and not covered in this class.
Aug
27 Introduction/Syllabus
Aug
29 The Contested West Chapter
17
Sep
3 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY – No
Class
Sep
5 UNIT 1 (Map Test)
EXAM
Sep 10 – 12 Business & Politics in the Gilded Age Chapter 18
Sep
17 - 19 The City & Its Workers Chapter
19
Sep
24 - 26 Dissent, Depression, & War Chapter
20
Oct
1 UNIT 2 EXAM CHAPTERS
17 - 20
Oct
3 - 8 Progressivism Chapter
21
Oct
10 - 15 World War I Chapter
22
Oct
17 From the New Era to
Great Depression Chapter 23
Oct
22 The New Deal Experiment Chapter
24
Oct
24 UNIT 3 EXAM CHAPTERS
21 – 24
Oct
29 - 31 The U.S. & The Second World
War Chapter 25
Nov
5 – 7 Cold War Politics in the
Truman Years Chapter
26
Nov 12 - 14 The
Politics & Culture of Abundance Chapter
27
Nov
19 UNIT
4 EXAM CHAPTERS
25 – 27
Nov 21 RESEARCH DAY – No Class
Nov
26 BOOK ANALYSIS
Assignment Due
Deadline to WITHDRAW
from Class
Nov
26 - 28 Reform,
Rebellion & Reaction Chapter
28
Dec 3 Vietnam & the Limits of Power Chapter 29
Dec
5 America
Moves to the Right Chapter 30
Dec 7 Retest
Deadline (Exams 1 - 3) Testing
Center
Dec 10 Promises & Challenges of Globalization Chapter 31
Dec 12 UNIT 5 EXAM CHAPTERS 28 – 31